Pocket reading-glass.



G. w. WELLS. POCKET READING GLASS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8 1912.

Patented June 1. 1915.

C7 Ew/- Fm. Eff' /m/ENrof? @mmf w wam GEORGE W. WELLS, OF SOUTHBBIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

POCKET READIN-GLASS.

LMLI ,225.

Specification of Letters Patent.

vPatented June ll, llml.

Application led January 8, 1912. Serial No. 670,320.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. WELLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Southbridge, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket Reading-Glasses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements 1n magnifying or reading glasses and has for its leading object the provision of a glass of this character provided with a handle which may be readily folded and which is preferably longitudinally curved to correspond to' the curvature of a face of the lens whereby the handle will lie close against the lens when folded and will occupy a minimum amount of space.

The further object of my invention is the provision in connection with a device of this character of lens protecting means inclosing the lens to protect both faces thereof from scratching and which shall fit between the handle and adjacent face of the lens and be engaged by the handle for retaining the said projecting casing in position.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improved resilient folding handle for a reader which shall frictionally engage the mounting of the lens to resist accidental opening or folding of the handle and to prevent wabbling or playV of the handle on its pivot.

Other objects and advantages of my improved folding reading or magnifying glass will be readily apparent by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be understood that I may make any modifications in the specific details of construction shown and described within the scope of the appended claim without departing from or exceeding the spirit of my invention.

Figure`I represents a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention. Fig. II represents a top plan view of my complete device in folded position. Fig. -III represents a sectional view on the line III-III of Fig. II. Fig. IV represents a fragmentary view illustratirg a slightly different form of mounting for the lens. Fig.r V represents a similar view of another modified mounting. Fig. VI represents a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one form of means for locking the handle in extended position. Fig. VII represents a similar view of a different means for attaining the same result. Fig. VIII represents a plan view of my device showing the two portions of the handle being sprung together to `disengage the handle from frictional engagement with the mounting and thus to facilitate folding or opening of the handle. Fig. IX represents a fragmentary view illustrating a modified construction of end for the handle, and Fig. X represents a fragmentary view illustrating a slightly diderent mounting and handle for limiting the relative pivotal movement of the parts.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates an ordinary double convex lens having secured thereto the rim or mounting 2 which may be of any suitable form, in most of the figures this being shown as a conventional rim, having a groove to receive the edge of the lens, while in Figs. IV and V a rimless mounting is shown secured in position by a screw 3. In those forms of my invention in which I have illustrated the rim 2, the terminal ends of said rim are provided with the outwardly projecting odset ears 4 which are connected by the screw 5 loosely received in the aperture 6 of one of said ears and having threaded engagement with the tapped aperture 7 of the other lug or ear. Tightening of this screw serves to draw the ears together and thus to tighten the rim around the lens. rIhe length of said rim, however, is such that the ears will have a space therebetween irrespective ofthe tightening of the screw. Projecting into said space are the flattened ends 8 of the resilient looped handle member 9. Said handle is' preferably formed with the outer portion of the loop flattened and broadened tok afford a satisfactory grip, while the ends 8 are flattened in a direction at right angles to the flattening of the outer end of the handle and have the apertures 10 formed therein in which the screw 5 is pivotally engaged, the screw thus serving both to secure the rim in position and also as a pivot for the handle. The handle being formed of spring material is so shaped that it is necessary to force the ends 8 together against their resilient outward springing tendency before they may be introduced between the ears 4 and consequently the ends 8 at all times press outward against the inner faces of the ears and frictionally engage said inner faces to resist pivotal movement of the handle.

If desired, I may'form in one of said members 6 or 8 grooves or recesses 11 to receive lugs 12 projecting from the other member and thus to supplement the frictional engagement by more positive locking means.

In Fig-VII, I have illustrated the outer faces vof the ends 8 and the inner faces of the ears 4 as provided with the corrugations or serrations 13 which serve to increase the frictional resistance to relative pivotal movement of the handle and mounting. Vhen the adjacent faces of the ends of the handle and mounting are so treated it is sometimes found advisable to grasp the handle as shown in Fig. VIII to manually spring said contacting faces out of engagement with `each other to best facilitate shifting of the handle, although it will be understood that this action is not absolutely necessary.

In Fig. V, I have shown another slight modification ofpmy invention embodying a rimless mounting having a single lug 14 projecting therefrom with the ends of the handle engaging the outer facesY of the lug, in this instance the handle being so shaped that the tendency of said ends will be to spring inward instead of outward, the ends thus frictionally engaging the lug as in the other forms of my invention.

It will be understood that it is necessary to limit the movement of the handle 9 to an are of about one hundred and eighty degrees in order that when opened the handle will hold the lens in correct position for satisfactory use. In the majority of forms of my invention I have illustrated the fiattened portions 8 of the handle as formed with the shoulder 15 for bearing against the mounting. In Fig. IX, however, in place of forming the portions .8 in rounding shape I merely slightly curve the outer edges and cut off the end at an incline or bevel. In this form the pivot aperture 10 is slightly eccentrically disposed and consequently the handle may lbereadily swung into closed position but as opened out the longer end 18 of the flattened portion 8 will engage the 'mounting and limit the movement ofthe handle.

In Fig. X, I have illustrated a still further modification in which one or both of the ears 4 is provided with the inwardly extending flange 19 to strike against the terminal ends of the handle and thus limit the movement of the handle, the ears 8 in this form being substantially circular and having no shoulder or abutment portion for engaging the mounting.

lIt will be understood that one of the great advantages of my folding magnifying glass is that the same may be carried in the pocket. To prevent scratching or soiling of the lens of my magnifying glass'while carried in the pocket with other articles, or to protect the lens when not in use I preferably provide the case 16 which is of size to just receive the lens and fit tightly thereagainst, one side of the case having formed therein the notch 17 to permit the case to fit around the pivot ears 4 of the mounting, while the other side of the case is continued in the reversely bent llap 2O which lies over the handle and closes the open end of the case.

By reference to Figs. II and III, particularly the latter, this construction will be readily understood, and it will be noted that the shape of the handle 9 is such that all parts of the handle bar bear tightly against the case when the handle is in closed position and on account of the frictional resistance to opening of the handle the handle serves to a certain extent to lock or hold the case in position upon the lens.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction of my improved folding 'magnifying or reading glass should be readily understood, and it will be seen that I have provided a simple, practical and ellicient device of this character which may be readily folded, which will occupy but little space when in folded condition and which may be so constructed as to offer a'certain degree of resistance to relative pivotal movement of the handle and lens, while permitting of opening or folding of the handle as desired. It will further be observed that I have provided an improved casing which may be placed on the lens of my improved magnifier and which will be held in position on the lens by the engagement of my improved folding handle therewith, and it will also be apparent that I have provided in connection with my improved reading glass mounting and handle therefor improved portions carried either by the mounting or by the handle for positively limiting the relative opening pivotal movement of the parts and thus to insure the lens being held in correct operative position by the handle.

I claim:

As an article of manufacture, a lens mounting comprising a frame having lugs carried by the terminal ends thereof, said lugs being offset vertically with respect to said frame, a handle formed to provide a pair of arms, the free ends of said arms being provided with laterally offset flattened portions arranged between and pivotally connected with said lugs so that when the handle is swung to over-lie the lens it will be positioned in spaced parallel relation thereto to accommodate a case.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE 1V. WELLS.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH J. DEMERS, MAnem B. MCKINSTRY. 

